Having Issues With Patient’s Family Members — Working Home Health, Help Please?
I am a CNA and work for a Home Health Agency in FL. I’ve been working for them for 5 months. I always enjoy it, especially being able to be close to my patients and not rushing like in a nursing home. One of my patients has Dementia but can do a lot of things by herself. I follow my Aide Assignment sheet to the letter, as I was told by my nurse supervisor. I am never late, I work hard and like what I do, I don’t miss work, I take everything seriously. My patients really like me. I have been going to this particular patient since first of January this yr, she REALLY likes me. She told me that I make her day so much better, that really made my day to hear that from her! She lives with her son who is in a wheelchair but does most everything by himself. But lately he’s been getting really mean to both of us. He told his sister (my patient’s daughter), who lives 6 houses away, that I don’t talk to him, that I don’t do things for him, that his mom and I keep laughing about any silly thing (I thought they would be happy that I make her mom laugh and that we have a good time together!). So I told the daughter about all this, and also that he changes everything I do for his mom. For example, I put a hand towel as a bib for her to eat her breakfast, he comes and snatches that towel away from her, very abruptly. The other day she was sitting and eating lunch and he whams her against the table, because he said she was too far away (the chair). I can’t believe the things he does. He gets in between me and her and wants to create a problem. I love going there for HER, my patient, I really enjoy it and I’m sure she does too. But how do I deal with this old fart that gets between us all the time and order me around? The daughter told me not to tell my agency anything because if I do she will drop the agency and find another one (she’s not private pay, my agency gets paid through medicaid). Thanks!
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The work has been designed, for the benefit of the patient.
When a family member interferes with the suitable performance of your duties. Your immediate supervisor has to be informed.
This person (the Son) is demonstrating Abusive tendencies, which can escalate. ( For this situation, a Family member, Family Doctor, or Family Lawyer, should get involved.) Whoever has Power of Attorney over the Mothers Affairs, should be informed, in order that they can deal with this matter.
for reasons that – in the case, of some event taking place, which causes harm to your patient. the family member, may try to make it appear that you were at fault.
keep a daily diary, in order to protect your integrity, and as a record of any events, as they happen.As a record, of the ongoing household situation.
Tell the agency what is going on. Your safety is at risk. I would have the agency talk to the police. You need to protect yourself. Consider bring in a small video camera and taking video of what is happening.
Explain to your supervisor what’s going on, despite the daughters comments. Even though they might move to another agency, your company isn’t getting reimbursed enough for you to put up with that. Hopefully your company can send a LPN or RN in as place of an aide to really see what’s happening and if they don’t and tell you to get used to it or whatever then they don’t deserve to have you on their payroll!!